Tranz-Alpine-Express, 1992

Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures on the ferry, with which we crossed to the South Island. From Picton, however, there are two pictures:

NZR DF 6202, Picton, September 1992

NZR DF 6202, Picton, September 1992

... and another one from the drive along the east coast to Christchurch (thanks again for localizing locating it to members of the NZSignals group):

NZR DF 6202, probably near Kaikoura or Oaro, September 1992

The next day we took the Tranz-Alpine Express to Greymouth on the other side of the New Zealand Alps, and back again. For the following three pictures, you need to know that before the 2011 earthquakes, Christchurch station was further east, at the south end of Madras Street. So that's where we departed on the blue train, and the first shot was taken—as I discovered after searching around on old maps and then on Google Maps—just before the Durham Street flyover. You can see what the slight S-curve looks like today here on Google Streetview from the Colombo Street bridge:

Durham Street bridge, Christchurch, September 1992

The next picture is a little further on, at Selwyn Street. On Google Streetview you can see that the old signal cantilevers have all disappeared. But the tall silos and the three gables on the right are the same as 30 years ago:

Just before Selwyn Street, Christchurch, September 1992

Shortly afterwards we are at Grove Road. In the background you can see the signal box of Addington junction, where the line from Picton came in. The building is still standing—and also the signal bridge stood still in full glory in October 2019 according to Google Streetview (only its railing has been lost; presumably the signals are now maintained by elevating platform and not by climbing ladders ...):

At Grove Road, Christchurch, September 1992

At the west end of Middleton marshalling yard in Christchurch, I took the following two shots as the train passed by:

NZR DC 4542, Middleton Yard, Christchurch, September 1992

NZR DSG 3074, Middleton Yard, Christchurch, September 1992

Two pictures show the electric locomotives at the east portal of the Otira tunnel, which were still used then. However, the end of their use was already foreseeable, because heavier coal trains were to be run, for which converted diesel locomotives and new ventilation systems were planned instead of an upgrade of the electrification:

NZR EO 51 and another EO, Arthur's Pass, September 1992

NZR EO 74, 51 and another EO, Arthur's Pass, September 1992

The following three pictures are from the wye at Stillwater:

Signal 7/5FI, Stillwater Junction, September 1992

Signal 3FI, Stillwater Junction, September 1992

signal 2L was part of the CTC signalling towards Greymouth, which has long since been replaced by TWC:

Signal 2L, Stillwater Junction, September 1992

And finally, here is a picture of our destination station; the set of the Tranz-Alpine-Express has already left to the south to turn around:

, Greymouth, September 1992

In the next post you will see pictures of Greymouth's more or less mechanical signal box, which was still there at the time!